Hi Doug,

Can you confirm for me that you are having exactly the same issue?  I have been back and forth with Anita at Microsoft, and up until now I only knew of myself that had this problem.  I'd like to let her know that is is not just me having this issue.  Are your "Custom Fields" and "Catalog Sets" buttons reversed in the Sync Annotations function?  How long have you had the problem?  Mac or PC?

Cheers, Josh

Just thought I'd throw another thought into the mix here.  While I usually add bulk metadata on ingestion via Image Ingester like Peter, I do sometimes add additional bulk metadata in Bridge.  I've found the easiest way to add keywords (and other metadata) is via the "File Info..." panel.  The only catch here is that you need to make sure to work on a "Top Down" method (adding keywords that apply to all images first, then getting into more specific words for smaller groups of images) or you'll run into Bridge giving you just the dreaded "(Multiple Values)" text.

Cheers, Josh

Hi Peter,

Thanks, and thanks to you for all of your help.  I find this really strange that it is affecting all 3 of my machines (they all have those two buttons reversed).  The version I re-installed last night was a copy that I had had stored as a DMG file on my machine for a while, and was wondering if somehow I had a bad copy or something.  I went to the XMedia site this morning and downloaded a fresh-from-them version (build 1477) to install, but came up with the same problem at every stage, including after updating this copy to SP2...

I'm guessing I should talk to the folks at MS about this, do have a contact there that might be able to troubleshoot this for me?  I don't really enjoy the thought of spending hours on the phone with MS tech support while they ask me to reboot my machine a hundred times...

Cheers, Josh

Note: I have e-mailed back and forth with Peter on this, and he was able to make things work correctly on his end, so he suggested I re-installed EM2 and retry.  Here was my response to him:

Hi Peter,

First went in and deleted all the XMedia 2 preferences, and the trouble still persisted.  Went through and re-installed XMedia 2, and still had no luck (I forgot to check which version I installed here, but I think it was SP1).  Updated back to SP2, and still no luck.  Had the random idea to check all three check boxes (Custom Fields, Catalog Sets, and Hierarchical Keywords) and had success!

Went back and tried a few more combinations of boxes ticked and un-ticked and narrowed it down and realized that the "Include Custom Fields" button is actually exporting the Catalog Sets, and the "Include Catalog Sets" button is actually exporting the Custom Fields!  Somehow, these two buttons have been switched with each other...

Now that I've figured this out, do you know if there is any way to switch them back? 

Thanks again for all your help on this.  Cheers, Josh

Just sent it over, thanks so much Peter!

Cheers, Josh

Hi Peter,

Just ran that test, created a new document in PS with a plain white background, and saved it as a JPG file.  Created a brand new XMedia Catalog, imported the JPG only.  Added 1 keyword and 1 catalog set, synced annotations, opened in Photoshop then "File Info...".  Keyword synced just fine, Catalog Set did NOT...

Cheers, Josh

Hi Peter,

Thanks for testing this for me and your help in trying to figure it out...

I'm 99% sure this was a problem before SP2...  I was working on my laptop (actually prepping to teach my final class on Digital Asset Management at my local photographic trade school) which had SP1 installed (Don't recall the build #) and had this issue come up.  So without really thinking too much about it, I DL'd and installed the SP2 update thinking this would fix it.  No luck...  So I'm pretty sure this was an issue prior to upgrading to SP2.  (Edit: Just checked on the other iMac workstation here in the office (3rd machine now) that is running SP1, Build 1631 and Sync Annotations is also not working on this machine, so it is definitely not related to SP2.)

There is no Microsoft namespace showing up in Bridge or PS "File Info..." area under any tab I can see, including the "Advanced" one.

The Catalog Sets are just basic words, no funny characters at all.  (Called "Test123", and "Test2")

Cheers, Josh

Hi Peter,

Created a new Catalog and imported just 2 DNG files to test.  Both had catalog sets created in II that showed up fine in the Advanced Metadata area in "File Info..." in Bridge & PS before syncing annotations.  Added a new Catalog Set to just one file, then synced the annotations, and opened it up in PS, and now there is no ns.iview-multi... Schema showing at all for this file in the Advanced Metadata area in "File Info...".

Tried a "Convert Image Files..." (to JPG) on this same file with newly added Catalog Sets, and in the options I selected to export annotations, including Catalog Sets.  The catalog sets (and all other metadata) do come along for the ride and show up perfectly in the ns.iview-multi... Schema as they should.  Then I added another Catalog Set to this newly created JPG file, synced annotations again, and opened up in PS, and the ns.iview-multi... Schema is now gone, so it's not just a DNG issue, and apparently the annotations are syncing just fine when converting image files.  Err!

Cheers, Josh

Peter,

Thanks for your reply.

I am adding a new catalog set to the list, applying it to the images(s), then syncing annotations (export, including Catalog Sets).  I'm then opening a brand new catalog and importing the files for which I just synced the annotations, and all metadata is there but no catalog sets.  If the files had catalog sets before, they are all wiped out completely now.  I have not had a successful export yet, at least since I noticed the issue yesterday.  I have no idea how long this has not been working...

Cheers, Josh

Hi Everyone,

Having a heck of an issue with this...  I'm using EM2 SP2 (Build 2092) on OSX (10.5.6) and am having an issue with syncing my annotations.  (It started before the SP2 update).

I can't seem to make the catalog sets stick when exporting my annotations to my original files.  I of course have selected the images to sync, and have checked the "Catalog Sets" box.  When I select this, it still does not update the catalog sets, and in some cases appears to be getting rid of catalog sets that were there to begin with (added in Image Ingester Pro).  Tried on DNG's and JPG's, but both have failed so far.  Anyone else have this issue or can replicate it?  I know it is not a machine specific issue as it happens on my iMac and MacBook Pro.

Cheers, Josh

Hey Marc,

Thanks for getting back to me again!  Add my voice as a vote for this feature, that would be seriously slick.

Thanks again for making such an awesome app.  Cheers, Josh

Hey Marc,

Sorry, I should have been more clear.  Basically, I am currently shooting tethered and the images go straight into a folder on my desktop.  I have Bridge CS4 open to that folder, and new images appear as they are added automatically, which is great.  What I would love is if IIPro could basically "watch" a folder that I shoot into, and if a new image is added, it could process (rename, add metadata templates, keywords, etc), and then copy the "ingested" images from the "watched" folder to a new folder.  I would then have Bridge watch the new folder.

I like the idea of shooting tethered for clients so they can review images on-site and possibly do some rating and pick their selects, but it'd be great if all of my renaming, bulk metadata, batch ACR adjustments, etc could happen before they get to Bridge and save me some time after the shoot.  Did I explain myself better this time?

Cheers, Josh

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if anyone knows if you can shoot tethered straight into IIPro 3 on Mac OS 10.5.6 with IIPro 3.2.04.  I am set up with the appropriate tethering software for my Nikon, and would love to be able to import automatically via IIPro so I don'g have to go back and edit metadata later, it can all get added right at import.  Am I dreaming?

Cheers, Josh

Ditto Scott,

I've use MetaSync a few times, and it is a great utility.  Thanks!

Cheers, Josh

A little late I know, but had to post this: Way more info than you ever wanted about CD & DVD Media.

Cheers, Josh